698 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

The two-family home at 698 New Lots Avenue in East New York, owned by Joel Karpen, has experienced several maintenance issues since its construction in 2012. Most recently, in January 2023, there were multiple complaints investigated by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) regarding windows, unsanitary conditions (pests), plumbing (radiator issues), and appliance problems (electric/gas range), though no violations were ultimately issued for these complaints. The building has a documented history of pest-related issues, with four separate complaints between September 2022 and January 2023, including infestations of mice and cockroaches, particularly affecting the second-floor apartment.

Notable violations from October 2022 included problems with a loose baseboard radiator and an infestation of cockroaches in the kitchen, both in the second-floor apartment, though these were subsequently certified as corrected. Looking back at the building's history, an inspection in August 2018 revealed multiple significant issues in the first-floor apartment, including high hot water temperatures (152°F), the presence of mice, and defects in plaster surfaces requiring repairs. There were also safety concerns with a defective carbon monoxide detector and a broken ceiling light fixture in the private hallway.

An important safety-related violation from this inspection required the building to post gas leak procedures in a common area, though this was later certified as corrected under a permit issued in December 2018. The property successfully passed a rodent inspection in August 2018, suggesting some improvements to vermin control. While many of the identified issues have been addressed and closed out, several violations from 2018 related to the first-floor apartment's condition remain open as of the most recent records, including those concerning plaster surfaces, mice infestation, and carbon monoxide detector issues.